Despite its extensive green cover, a visit to Singapore essentially remains a fastpaced urban experience. Those Indian travellers looking to add a touch of wilderness and nature to their Singapore visit without adding tedious journeys or visa processes, can head to Bintan Island, an Indonesian island that is located barely an hour-away by ferry from Singapore and which is a nature-lover’s haven.

In sharp contrast with the gleaming towers of steel and glass and vibrant streets of Singapore that are always crowded with tourists and locals, with sounds of a motley collection of tongues from across the world, Bintan is literally an island of tranquility, with nary a soul or sound around and the only thing that seems all-pervasive here is a blissful silence.

In addition to tranquility, it has also been blessed by a bountiful nature with a rich diversity in flora and fauna, notably mangroves and terrestrial and marine wildlife. The island also offers numerous amazing beaches that are fully equipped with a variety of water sports for those keen to experience some action.

And of course, there is a large collection of luxury hospitality offerings, as almost every major brand of luxury hotels from around the world is present here.

Easy access

A key attraction of Bintan Island is its proximity to Singapore

One of the biggest advantages for visitors, especially from India, to combine their Singapore visit with a trip to Bintan is the seamless access that is facilitated by the local hospitality service provider, Bintan Resorts.

Set in northern part of Bintan Island, at the point closest to Singapore, Bintan Resorts is an integrated beach resort destination bringing together 19 independent beach resorts, four designer golf courses and numerous activities for recreation and exploration. The company also organises a visa and ferry transfer from Singapore for its clientele, taking care of all formalities from their departure from Singapore right up to their check-in at their hotel in Bintan.

To get to Bintan, one can head straight to a transfer to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal from Changi Airport itself, or hop into a cab from anywhere in Singapore to get to the ferry terminal. Over there, pre-booked customers can collect their ferry boarding passes from the Bintan Resort Ferries counter.

The ferry transfer involves a customs and immigration check and hence a passport with minimum six months of validity is mandatory as is the visa to Indonesia. A standard customs declaration form also needs to be filled up and submitted upon arrival at Bintan.

Luxury on demand

With 19 luxury resorts to choose from, Bintan Resorts offers a broad choice of accommodation for tourists, from luxury glamping to exclusive pool villas and of course serviced apartments, hotel rooms and suites to suit all budgets and group sizes.

Natra Bintan: Glamp in style

Bintan Island has several luxury accommodation options

One of the most unique places to stay in style at Bintan is Natra Bintan, a high-end glamping site, that is part of the Marriott group. Overlooking the Crystal Lagoon, that is said to be South East Asia’s first and largest man-made seawater lagoon, Natra Bintan is an ideal spot for families and groups to enjoy their vacations in opulence and privacy.

The resort comes with luxury tents, that resemble those used during high-end safaris. Each tent has a private patio and overlooks either a well-manicured garden or the lagoon. The tents, which are airconditioned, are tastefully decorated and well-furnished with large beds, LED television sets, sofa beds as well as outdoor rainforest showers.

Grand Lagoi

Another notable property on Bintan Island is Grand Lagoi, a 133-room 5-star hotel located at the heart of Lagoi Bay, which is a short walk from Lagoi Beach. It boasts of spacious and airy rooms that can be as large as 47 sqm for a deluxe room or executive suites that measure all of 112 sqm. All the rooms come with all fittings that a client may need during a hotel stay.

One of the key activities that customers can enjoy at the Grand Lagoi hotel is cycling, which allows opportunities for a relaxed exploration of the island and its rich nature. The hotel also has facilities for sports like badminton or table tennis, but one of its most notable facilities is a rooftop infinity pool commanding panoramic views.

The hotel also has facilities for hosting meetings for up to 250 persons. One of its notable facilities is a rooftop infinity pool commanding panoramic views and two contemporary restaurants where guests can embark on a culinary journey.

Dining

Culinary diversity of Indonesia on display

The culinary diversity of Bintan is also reflective of its Indonesian heritage and proximity to Singapore. There are numerous restaurants and bars that offer a range of international cuisines and being an island, seafood is in no short supply.

One of the most popular purveyors of seafood here is the Kelong Seafood Restaurant, that is located in Nirwana Gardens. Built on stilts just above the sea, the restaurant makes for a perfect spot to relish delicious seafood while being hypnotised by the views of South China Sea as the cool sea breeze drifts through.

One can savour signature dishes such as Gong-Gong, or sea snails, Black Pepper Crab, Salted Egg Honey Lobster and Stir Fried Butter Prawns prepared in a unique blend of Asian and local culinary styles.

Those longing for the Indian cuisine can head to another restaurant in the same hotel, Spice, which offers a variety of trademark Indian dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, such as Tandoori Chicken, Kerala Fish Curry and Biryani. All this cooked by an able team led by Chef Mohan, who brings with him a rich experience of cooking Indian meals for numerous leading hotels around Asia.

Activities

Bintan Island has a large number of activities that can cater to visitors of practically any age group or looking for any kind of activity, from a game of golf to a bunch of water sports activities or simply going exploring the forests and mangroves that line the entire island.

One of the most famous public beaches of Bintan Resorts is the Lagoi Beach, a pristine, white sand coast that stretches 3.5 km along the Singapore Strait, the water body that separates Singapore from Bintan.

Lagoi is a popular spot for visitors keen to experience a variety of water sports activities such as snorkelling, jet ski, kayaking or just swimming.

Mangrove Tour

Bintan is home to numerous mangroves for visitors to explore

One of the most popular outdoor activities in Bintan is the mangrove tour that takes visitors on an adventurous journey right through the thick mangroves located along Sebung River on the island. So densely packed are the mangrove trees together that its foliage provides an unbroken cover over the waters, giving rise to rich collection of flora and fauna, as the mangroves provides a shelter to the biodiversity prevalent here. All over, as the small boat navigates through the narrow channels, visitors can see macaques and silver leaf monkeys jump overhead from one branch of a mangrove to another, while dozens of birds, notably Kingfishers fly close to the water level to spot a prey or two.

According to the local guides, Sebung River is home to hundreds of wildlife and fauna species. The roots of the mangrove forest holds the soil firmly to the water bed, preventing soil erosion and safeguards the coasts of Bintan. The river and the mangroves are also home to a large number of reptiles, notably the snakes that often lie just above, hidden amidst the dense dense foliage of the trees. Along with the snakes, another notable species of reptiles here is the Monitor Lizard.

For a unique experience of the mangroves, sign up for the evening tour that begins at 19:30 each evening as you explore the forests under stars and moonlight. And as if to help your boat navigate, hundreds of fireflies flit around the mangroves, creating a brilliant visual display of light and darkness.

Treasure Bay Bintan

Water sports fan can head to Treasure Bay Bintan for a variety of activities

Besides the mangroves, another popular spot for activities is Treasure Bay Bintan a recreational hub that provides tourists with a variety of activities that can keep them and their families engaged for a whole day.

One can opt for an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) tour to explore the wilderness\ of the island or get a feel of flying in the 7.5 m long Slip & Slide, that literally ejects you in the air.

Other activities include kayaking, paddle-boarding, water cycling and sailing as well as wakeboarding, waterskiing and knee-boarding. You can also feel like a Hollywood or Bollywood star by taking a tour on a Jetovator, a water-propelled vehicle that allows one to literally ‘fly’ over the sea. Scuba diving and snorkelling off Bintan Island is also provided by trained and certified PADI diving instructors at Bintan Resort.

Other activities available at Bintan Resorts include trekking to the highest peak on the island, a day of picnic at the White Sands Island, that is also known as Pulau Beralas Pasir. It is a private island located about 15 minutes boat ride from the Trikora Beach of Bintan Island. Another activity that is increasingly popular with Indian tourists, at least the corporate groups, is golfing as one can tee-off at one of the four championship golf courses that are located at Bintan.

An interesting nature-related activity at Bintan is a conservation project to protect baby turtles. The project is managed by a local environmental group, which also conducts community-based activities such as cleaning up the beaches or the seabed, with volunteers, including tourists.

Newborn turtle release usually happens between June to September every year and the Green and Hawksbill Turtles climb ashore to the beaches of Bintan Island twice a year to lay their eggs. The eggs are collected and buried in a sheltered hatchery to protect them from predators and poachers. After about 60 days the eggs hatch and the baby turtles are released into the sea.

Cultural heritage

Bintan Island is not just about nature or water-based activities, the island is also a living museum of the culture and heritage of this part of Indonesia and has a number of historical sites that are worth exploration by tourists.

For a true cultural exploration, head towards southern Bintan to Tanjung Pinang, the largest town in Bintan, about 60 km from Grand Lagoi or Natra Bintan resorts. A main trading post on Bintan, the architectural heritage of Tanjung Pinang displays its Dutch history from when Indonesia was a Dutch colony. But beyond that, the mainstay of cultural tours here involve the local Buddhist and Chinese heritage.

500 Lohan Temple (Vihara Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva)

The 500 Lohan Temple is a major attraction here

The star spiritual and cultural attraction of Bintan Island and Tanjung Pinang is the Vihara Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, popularly known as the 500 Lohan Temple. The entrance to the temple is a grand one as visitors pass underneath an impressive archway that is guarded by General Heng and General Ha, two mythological generals of the Shang Dynasty in China.

Near the archway is a pavillion with a Buddha statue built in the Thai style, while the surrounding wall of the pavillion itself is decorated with Tibetan Buddhist art. In the main hall, a gigantic sculpture of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sits on the altar.

And near the main hall, in a garden stand 500 life-size statues of arahats or the enlightened souls that have attained Nirvana. The arahats stand in orderly rows and the name of each arahat appears at the base of the sculpture. What is amazing is that despite the multitude of statues, each statue is not only lifelike, but even bears a different facial expression and has a different facial feature, making the temple a portrait photographer’s dream!

Vihara Avalokitesvara Graha

Indonesia’s Buddhist heritage is vividly present in Bintan

Another outstanding site at Tanjung Pinang is Vihara Avalokitesvara Graha, said to be the largest Buddhist temple in all of South East Asia as it encompasses nothing less than 10 hectares. It is also one of the most important landmarks of Chinese community of Indonesia in general and Tanjung Pinang in particular, where Chinese have lived for hundreds of years. Dominating the main hall is a giant golden statue of Buddha in its Avalokitesvara avatar and the entire complex is decorated with numerous motifs and statues that depict the Chinese Buddhist heritage of the temple.

Today, it attracts not just tourists, but also Buddhist scholars from all over South East Asia since it has a full-fledged monastery to train monks.

Some of the other key sites here include temples like the Penyengat Island Mosque and the Senggarang Temple, which offer travellers a glimpse into the island’s rich cultural heritage. The Banyan Tree Temple of Senggarang Village is an intriguing site as ancient trees entwine their roots around, enveloping the ancient walls of the building in protective embrace.